Trailer brakes weak, a few questions:
32 foot TT, about 7000 pounds plus our gear and stuff: I've noticed the brakes are underperforming substantially. Got the gain on the Prodigy turned all the way up, when I grab the lever and throw ...
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Yes you should certainly adjust the brakes at 12 years. Actually 12 months or 12,000 miles would be OK also. OK to repack the bearings at this point too.
Yes they adjust same as all other drum brakes.
A few are forward self adjusting but I assume yours are not. When you pull them apart you will see a familiar cable and adjuster if you have this option.
Some lock up and others do not but you should get very significant braking force when full power is applied manually. Although I found after sitting in storage the initial braking was a bit less until you make 5 or 10 stops to get them worked in a bit.
Best electrical check is a clamp-on DC ammeter reading. At full power you should see about 3 amps through each coil. More and you have a short, less and you have a bad connection.
Shoes last a long time with mostly highway miles. The material seems thinner than a vehicle so unless it is very thin I would keep running them.
Keep us updated with what you find. Post a picture if something does not look right.
Yes they adjust same as all other drum brakes.
A few are forward self adjusting but I assume yours are not. When you pull them apart you will see a familiar cable and adjuster if you have this option.
Some lock up and others do not but you should get very significant braking force when full power is applied manually. Although I found after sitting in storage the initial braking was a bit less until you make 5 or 10 stops to get them worked in a bit.
Best electrical check is a clamp-on DC ammeter reading. At full power you should see about 3 amps through each coil. More and you have a short, less and you have a bad connection.
Shoes last a long time with mostly highway miles. The material seems thinner than a vehicle so unless it is very thin I would keep running them.
Keep us updated with what you find. Post a picture if something does not look right.
